Muse
The Passage
Shepherds Bush Empire London
19.08.17
So The Day is here !! & I've been among the lucky to secure a ticket thanks to a fellow Muser ! Tonight's show is going to be special, the band are playing a special 'By Request' setlist chosen by 'Muse' fans and the Top 10 will be played this has never been done before there could be some surprises I still can't believe I'm here.
My day began as I woke at just before 10am chilled out as I didn't think I'd need to rush but I get a tweet saying I need to be in the queue before 12pm or the ticketholder 's place could be compromised due to crowd control as they are in the queue already , so I get ready to go out sooner than I think and head over to the venue asap.
Many of my #Muser crew are there so I take time to say hello before settling down as +38 in the queue,the woman from 'SBE' 02 management is keeping us in good spirits, when moving us from one location to another so that the crew could load in the equipment, we are not allowed to queue at the front until later when its sorted, we are also told there is a priority queue so we join it later in the day.
As this happens word is out that Chris just arrived and I run round to find lots of fans already vying for his attention he has black rimmed glasses on and looks very tanned and lean he scrubs up well these days, too many people around to get a photo and he's rushed in to soundcheck.
Meanwhile back round the front in the priority queue the bands artistic director is taking a photo of us unbeknownst to me, and 'The Passage' charity are handing out forms to join a competition, the excitement now is electric as it comes round to the last hour.
It was all going really well until the ticket machines fxxked up, my ticket holder was waiting on the 2nd ticket mine due to be printed off, we had to get someone to help us and the doors opened fans in our queue who were polite were now pushing past us and telling us to Fxxk off you can rely on Italian fans cant you?? especially as we saved a place for them when they left the queue.
Eventually after quite a stampede into the venue we all get shunted into a corridor to be searched and into the main standing area. I run like the wind with my fellow Muser towards the barrier which has already filled up from people in the main queue seems they got in first, basically everyone from the back of us got in before us #PriorityMyAss what Priority O2 ?? how does that happen!.
We are 3 back from the barrier unfortunately I'm wearing trainers as I had no idea this would happen,theres no support act just the guys , we are all buzzing after the stress subsides, I'm getting butterflies already it starts to remind me of the old skool days post 'Origin Of Symmetry' and 'Psycho Tour' in 2015, Shepherds Bush Empire is an intimate venue for a band this size to play.
As the lights go down it goes quiet and everyone is ready some wearing Neon flashing glasses like Matt's inspired by the crazy ones he wears on stage, after a voice recording comes over the PA the band walk on and its on with the show and to kick things off get the crowds in a frenzy.. what better way to do this than 'Assassin' 'Matt' Back in Red Jeans and Tshirt mode, this is a song not played much since 2006 or if you were lucky to be at one show in London's 02 arena last year on the 'Drones Tour'.
The crowd go ape moshing what a way to start the show, I'm galloping just to stand up straight holding on to the person in front leaping like a frog out of the way of stamping feet, it continues apace with 'Dead Star' no let up in the ferociousity of the crowd and the band deliver a performance to remember, finally we get 'Muscle Museum' can't remember the last time I'd seen this live,everyone goes ballistic this another well requested song on the tours never played.
The pace slows only slightly as B side to 'Starlight', 'Easily' gets an airing a synth driven guitar swirling classic 'Muse' song debuting for the first time, one rarity after another with 'Glorious' from the Japanese import of 'BH&R' such an underated Bonus song hope this gets played again soon. Onto the piano now with 'Butterflies& Hurricanes' a bit of of calm before the chorus at least.
Then not a 20 minute version of 'Citizen Erased' as they joked but a blistering ear shattering vocal not rare as was played on 'Drones Tour' twice for me but a fan favourite from 'Origin Of Symmetry' its then the turn of 'Chris' and 'Dom' to wow on stage for their usual jam .
We are all still quivering with excitement and then it happens my ultimate request 'Showbiz' as the eerie vocal begins, OMG I'm in rapture, screeching in delight as the first strains of verse one, 'Matt' looks determind out at the crowd now in the palm of his hand as he reaches the build up of the chorus which I'm singing as if possessed by the devil wailing along as the vocals reach a shuddering climax.
The entire crowd almost spontaneously combust with "Peace And Joy In our Minds" its too much excitement I'm ready to burst as 'Fury' begins it's almost a cataclysmic set we're only halfway though.
Of course in between that we get the classics as 'Hysteria' pounds out I'm physically moved to the left away from the wave of moshers almost like being washed out to shore in time for 'New Born' its less lively over here and easy to film some memories although one guy has height as advantage over me I politely ask if he could take a couple of pics for me which he obliged or I'd have no pics for the blog.
It picks up pace again with 'Yes Please' and the final throes of 'Reapers' this works so well.
Then it's a quick break for the band,the crowd baying for more, they returned with Matt saying "Surprised this got requested but here we go " (laughs) and 'Sing For Absolution' starts , I'm stunned all over again when 'Futurism' is played I used to play it over and over back in 2002 it was never off the CD Player!!
During 'Knights Of Cydonia'.. well they always end with it , I went off to check out the merch stall and hurry out the venue to the back streets where I awaited my chance to see the guys leave as they were going to leave fast, as I'm lined up alongside the pathway I feel like I'm waiting the royal procession at the royal variety performance Oh how the code has changed since those crazy days.
First out 'Chris' and the 'Dom' appeared I spoke to them but no chance of a photo and almost as soon as 'Dom' was out 'Matt' was walking toward us, he was in demand from a few fans I was worried I'd get missed out, so many people trying to talk to him whilst I tried to get a conversation in about the show.
I simply said... "Matt can I have a photo please,Its my Birthday today" he looked at me and smiled and said 'Oh Happy Birthday' I put my arm around him for our first photo in 13 years the rest is history, such an emotional night after the setlist played the personal moments seeing the guys again, my little head couldn't cope, there's no doubt I'm a #Muser til I die .
It looks like 'Showbiz' will be making a comeback as 'Matt' said "Well That's gonna get played again" from the crowds response, of course you can't please everyone as noticed on Ticketmaster Review from Devon complaining "They played nothing that I knew", and branded us all #MuseSnobs.
Which then gave a group of us an idea to design a special t-shirt my friend and group admin leader changed our group SBE The Passage to #MuseSnobs if you are in our gang lol you can buy the design online soon
#MuseSnobAnd Proud.
Next we Follow the band to Leeds Festival
Lmi xo
